Not a lot of ideational potential in phonologyWhy our ancestors came up with words
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[1] To be clear, if there were not "a lot of ideational potential" in phonology, the ideational content of language could not be expressed phonologically. If what Rose claims were true, it would be necessary to use another medium, such as writing or sign, to express ideational meaning.
What is true is that, in English, the systems of the tone group realise interpersonal and textual distinctions, while the systems of syllable and phoneme realise all metafunctional distinctions.
[2] To be clear, Rose's argument is:
- Reason: because there's "not a lot of ideational potential in phonology"
- Result: consequently "our ancestors came up with words"
Clearly, a stratum of lexicogrammar ("words") is no solution to an ideational deficiency on the stratum of phonology, because it still leaves no means of realising the ideational content of lexicogrammar in phonology. In short, this is a false conclusion invalidly reasoned from a false premiss.
On the other hand, it is amusing to imagine human ancestors intoning interpersonally and textually before they "came up with" words.
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The Dangers Of Phonology Not Realising Ideational Content
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